Företagsnytt
Houzz, the world’s leading platform for home renovation and design, is set to tap into Germany’s EUR35 billion home renovation market* with the launch today of its localized site, houzz.de, apps for iOS and Android, and the opening of its German office. Strong local demand for the Houzz offering, as well as growing interest in German design from Houzz users all over the world, prompted the company’s expansion into Germany.
Starting today, Houzz will offer German homeowners, renters and design enthusiasts an easy way to find design inspiration with over four million retina-quality photos of home interiors and exteriors; access home renovation advice from the largest home community on the Internet; read guides and articles from German home design professionals; discover new products to source for their projects; and research and hire the best German architects, interior designers, builders and other professionals who can help turn their vision for their homes into a reality. A recent study conducted by research institute forsa** for Houzz found that 43 percent of Germans renovated their homes and 67 percent of Germans decorated their homes in the past two years.
For German home professionals, Houzz provides the ability to build their brands and reach new clients, both locally and around the world. German professionals can not only showcase their work, awards and accreditations on Houzz, but also provide insight into their personality, working style and approach through client reviews, direct community interaction and more. The platform also enables German professionals to share ideas and collaborate with clients in the cloud from project start to finish.
Since it was founded as a side project in 2009 to help its founders with their home renovation, Houzz has grown organically to more than 25 million monthly unique users and over 500,000 active home professionals in more than 60 categories such as architects, interior designers, builders and more. Over 35 percent of the company’s traffic now comes from outside the U.S. and its move into Germany marks the launch of its third international site.
“Germany is extremely important to us, bringing a unique design aesthetic and incredibly active design community to Houzz,” Adi Tatarko, Houzz cofounder and CEO. “German designs were already very popular on Houzz before the launch with some German projects saved tens of thousands of times by community members all over the world. Our global community looks forward to seeing more of Germany’s cutting edge design on Houzz. We’re also thrilled to bring an enhanced experience to the German market and to build a dedicated, local team that can deliver the best technology, products and experience for this community.”
Houzz has established a Berlin-based team, led by Managing Director Roman Rochel, that is focused on helping both professionals and homeowners get the most from the new German site.
*Footnote: http://www.handwerk-magazin.de/gfk-konsumklima-2014/150/3/218007
**Footnote: Houzz commissioned forsa to conduct a representative study about the renovation and remodeling behaviour and plans of Germans. forsa polled 2.011 German internet users in October 2014.
About Houzz
Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish - online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin and Sydney. For more information, visit www.houzz.de.